ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Aims: This study aims to ascertain if there are differences in ankle kinematics and ground reaction force in sports participants with chronic groin pain compared to healthy controls.
Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study design was used. Twenty participants - 10 cases with chronic groin pain and 10 healthy controls participated. The 10 cases included participants with unilateral pain (n=7) and bilateral pain (n=3). For analysis, the bilateral pain group was divided into the most and less painful side. The study was conducted at the FNB 3D Motion Analysis Laboratory, Stellenbosch University. Sagittal plane kinematics and VGRF was analysed during a single leg drop landing.
Results: The group with unilateral groin pain had a higher peak force compared to the matched side of the controls. The bilateral pain groups had less plantarflexion at foot contact (most affected p=<0.001; least affected p=<0.001) and total range of motion (p=<0.05) compared to the control group. The bilaterally injured groin pain groups demonstrated less peak force when compared to controls.
Conclusion: This is the first study to indicate alterations in ankle kinematics and VGRF and that these changes are more apparent in sports participants with bilateral pain. Less range of motion during the landing task illustrated by the bilateral pain group suggests less effective force absorption of the distal segments. In the bilateral groups it suggests that force attenuation may have occurred high up the kinetic chain which may place more strain on the groin. Clinically rehabilitation of the athlete with chronic groin pain should include the distal segments of the lower limb. Further research should be conducted in larger groups.